Chapter 78: Irony (1/2)
As the flames shined brighter, the temperature around the courtyard increased exponentially and all of the mortals backed off.
Strangely, the fire did not produce any smoke.
Mithras then exclaimed, ”I have never, ever said that Olympus and the Yunanite are servants of the devil.”
”I demand an explanation.” Mithras turned to all of the priests in the courtyard.
No one dared to speak, and he instead harrumphed and ordered, ”No one is offering an explanation? Then, you all are demoted from being magi(1). Scram.”
The mortals all ran out of the temple and only the three gods were left.
”I will hear it directly from that traitor king Arsak.” Mithra glared at them and declared, ”I shalln't let you go until this injustice is cleared.”
”Our dealings with Olympus back then were clear enough, and we all promised we wouldn't bother the expansions of your realm if you didn't meddle with ours.”
He continued, ”We ended up being the ones breaking these dealings. I apologize deeply.”
Hermes replied indifferently, ”I only ask of our treaties to be respected, I do not require nor solicit your apologies.”
Mithra seemed both embarrassed and furious.
He asked of them, ”Do you wish to see justice with your own eyes?”
Alex wanted to dismiss it and continue on their way but Hermes nodded fervently, ”Yes, I cannot let Olympus and our people suffer this injustice.”
Hermes then told Alex resolutely, ”Alexei-boy, we are an organization, and to keep our dominance over Hellenia, we need to be strong AND act strong. With this kind of disrespect, we should be straightforward.”
Mithra nodded and flew away at lightning speed.
Alex and Hermes followed behind on the chariot. The sun god was really furious, as any place he hovered above ignited into flames.
They traversed west on the road back to Ctesiphon and quickly reached the capital city of the Parthian Empire.
The beige palace still towered over the city, and Mithra directly flew into it.
The two, behind, downsized the chariot and also entered the palace.
They were in the same throne room as the last time, except the red carpet blazed as Mithra stood over it and in front of the kneeling king.
”Lord Mithra!” The king kowtowed.
”Stand up, you don't deserve to kowtow to me,” Mithra ordered.
The king seemed stunned and stood up. He then saw Alex and Hermes in the corner and exclaimed, ”Lord, those are the fiends I wished to warn Lord about.”
”Fiends? They're gods from Olympus.” Mithra rectified.
”Lord, you have informed me of them being fiends and the servants of the devil and ordered me to prosecute their people...”
Mithra seemed clueless as to everything and asked back in a questioning tone, ”I did? When?”
”Lord, about a year ago, your illuminated self came to the palace on a dark night, and passed your divine decree.” The king recounted his memories.
Mithra frowned and informed him, ”Shah Arsak, I haven't seen Ctesiphon since your coronation ceremony 5 years ago.”
The king shook profusely and said, ”Lord, that is impossible. It was definitely Your Glory that came upon us that night.”
The god placed his hand upon his chin and fell into thought.
He then said, ”You do know that I don't...really glow in the night?”
”Lord, you entered our palace in your divine image, and even the dark rooms were lit brightly with your presence...”
'A sun god that glows in the night? That almost feels like a caricature..' Alex found this amusing.
Mithra contemplated before giving his answer, ”You said that 'I' visited you to inform you that Yunanites are the wretches of Angra Mainyu, but, I think it was more likely you were visited by Angra Mainyu himself.”
The king was sweating buckets, and anxiously replied, ”L-lord, it was definitely your image that came that night....”
Mithra looked around the throne room and commented, ”You do know that a smoking fire is not a symbol of mine, but that of Angra Mainyu.”